Decline in International STEM Students Could Cost the US $480 Billion Each Year

This news article reports on a new study called “Brain Freeze”, which warns that the United States could lose up to $480 billion every year for the next decade because of a shrinking STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) talent poolmainly caused by the Trump administration’s restrictive policies toward international students.

🧠 What the Report Says

• The study estimates that declining international student enrolments in STEM fields will cost the US between $240 billion and $480 billion annually over the next ten years.
• That’s roughly equivalent to losing the entire economy of a US state like South Carolina or Utah every year.

📉 Why the Loss Is Happening

• The Trump administration is actively limiting international student participation in the US through:
  • Threats to end Optional Practical Training (OPT) a program that allows international graduates to work in the US temporarily.
  • Proposed visa time limits and new H-1B visa rules that make it harder for foreign graduates to stay and work.
  • A $100,000 proposed fee for employers sponsoring H-1B visas, discouraging companies from hiring international talent.

These restrictions discourage bright international students especially in STEM fields from studying or staying in the US.

👨‍🎓 Importance of International Students in STEM

• Half of all STEM graduate students in the US are international.
• Nearly one-third of the US high-skill STEM workforce is foreign-born.
• For every 10 international students who don’t come, 8 fewer American students get opportunities—because universities lose tuition income that supports facilities, teaching, and scholarships.

💡 Economic & Innovation Impact

• 36% of all US patents come from international students or workers.
• International STEM graduates from US universities produce 8 patents per 100 workers, compared to 3–4 by domestic workers.
• 20% of venture-capital-backed startups in the US were founded by immigrants 75% of them first came as international students.
• Immigrant innovators don’t just create their own ideas they make American colleagues more innovative too, boosting productivity across entire industries.

💬 Key Voices

• Michael Clemens, economics professor at George Mason University and report co-author, says:
  • “There is an explicit policy of this administration to exclude international students from the US.”
  • The belief that international students take away university seats from Americans is a myth.
• Fanta Aw, CEO of NAFSA (Association of International Educators), said that while there are “small wins” (like exempting F-1 students from the $100,000 H-1B fee), the government’s overall stance remains hostile to international education.

🔍 Bigger Picture

• The decline of international STEM students doesn’t just hurt universities it threatens the long-term growth, innovation, and global competitiveness of the United States.
• Historically, immigrants and their children have built nearly half of Fortune 500 companies, showing their deep connection to America’s economic success.
• The report warns that without policy change, the US will face a severe innovation slowdown and lose its edge as a global leader in science and technology.

📩Stay updated with global education insights!
🌍WAC Consultants – Guiding students toward global success.
📞Contact us today to explore top study destinations in STEM and beyond!
📩 Email: info@wacconsultants.com

📞WhatsApp: +92 310 7203666

🌐 www.wacconsultants.com